News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The SafeJournalists Network condemns the March 9th attack on journalist Dušanka Pejović from RTCG in Podgorica, where she was verbally assaulted and threatened outside her home. The attacker was swiftly arrested, and authorities confirmed the attack was linked to her journalistic work. While welcoming the police’s prompt response, SafeJournalists calls for a swift conviction and
Read more →In a letter, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers strongly condemn the public targeting of journalists by a former national television editor, who, through social media, has misused private photos to discredit them. They claim that journalists from media outlets such as the Investigative Reporting Lab,
Read more →BiH CSOs have strongly condemned the urgent adoption of four laws by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, particularly the so-called Foreign Agents Law, which they view as a direct attack on critical voices, independent organizations, media, and opposition figures. The law enables strict financial oversight of CSOs receiving international funding, branding them as “foreign
Read more →BCSDN’s latest policy brief highlights the alarming decline of civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Governments are enacting restrictive laws, curbing media freedom, and using financial and administrative pressure to silence civil society. Public funding for CSOs is politically controlled, unpredictable, and insufficient, while bureaucratic hurdles further limit independent financing. Moreover, governments are
Read more →Student-led protests in Serbia continue to gain significant public backing, with 80% of citizens supporting the students’ demands, and one-third actively participating in demonstrations. The protests, initially sparked by concerns over corruption and governance failures after the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy, which tragically claimed 15 lives, have since grown into a
Read more →Together with our member TÜSEV, we present the Monitoring Matrix on the Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development 2022-2023 Türkiye Report. According to the report’s findings, civil society continues to face legal and bureaucratic restrictions that limit freedom of association. Vague legal terms like “public order” and “morality” enable arbitrary enforcement, further shrinking civic space.
Read more →In a letter to the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albanian CSOs, including BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development, raise concerns over the lack of transparency in assessing the 2019–2023 Roadmap and drafting the 2024–2027 framework. The letter highlights that, despite the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for civil society,
Read more →The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a crucial regulation aimed at protecting digital rights and ensuring accountability in the online space. As the Western Balkans align their laws with EU standards, the DSA offers a framework to tackle illegal content and protect users. However, challenges exist, including online fraud, weak regulation, and limited platform accountability.
Read more →The Novi Sad railway tragedy in November, which claimed 15 lives, has triggered Serbia’s largest protests since 2000. What began as outrage over safety failures quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding justice, electoral reform, and increased education funding, with universities closed for months. BCSDN member Civic Initiatives and other CSOs have severed ties with
Read more →The government of Republika Srpska is moving forward with a stricter “foreign agents” law, despite previous expectations that it would be abandoned. President Milorad Dodik announced that the law, which targets NGOs and media, will be even more restrictive than the earlier draft, withdrawn last year after international criticism. The proposal follows the U.S. decision
Read more →The European Union Delegation in North Macedonia has launched consultations with civil society and other stakeholders to define priority topics for the upcoming calls for proposals under the IPA III Civil Society and Media Support Instrument for 2024-2025. The calls for proposals will align with the EU’s strategic approach for the region and focus on
Read more →Bosnia’s Federation House of Representatives unanimously adopted a new Law on Protection against Domestic Violence and Violence against Women. The law strengthens police powers, allowing them to intervene swiftly, detain suspects for 48 hours, and use electronic monitoring devices on offenders with restraining orders. This law aims to align with the Council of Europe’s Convention
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